Aquatic vehicle



Oct. 9, 1928.

J. F. CALDWELL AQUATIC VEHICLE 7 Filed Oct. 31, 1927 3 She'fi'S-Sheet 1ATTORINEY Oct. 9; 1928.

- J. F. CAITDWELL AQUATIC VEHICLE Filed Oct, 31, 19,27 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR J e51." Caldwell ATTORNEY Oct. 9,. 1928.

J. F. CALDWELL AQUATI C VEHICLE Filed Oct. 31,- 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Got. 9, 1928.

tJMTED ST 1,687,194 PATENT oer-ice.

JAMES F. CALDWELL-F WATTS, CALIFORNIA.

AQUATIC VEHICLE.

Application filed October 31, 1927. Serial No. 230,012.

It a further purpose of my invention to provide an aquatic vehicle ofthe above described character which is comparatipely light in weight andis capable of being folded into a relatively small and compact parcelfor transportation or storage, yet can be QUlClKlY set up for use toform a rigid and stable structure in the water so that one wit-.1- out aknowledge of swimming can safely float upon the water on the vehicle orpropel the latter through the water at will.

I will describe only one form of aquatic vehicle embodying my inventionand will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view showing in vertical longitudinal section one formofaquatic vehicle embodying my invention and illustrating the vehicle setup for use;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating the folded positionof the vehicle;

Fig; 3 is a plan view of the vehicle;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 6 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1 and looking inthe direction of the arrows; and i Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional Viewillustrating a connector and latching means therefor embodied in myinvention.

Referring specifically to the drawing in which similar referencecharacters designate similar parts in each of the several views, myinvention in its present embodiment comprises a bouyant means in theform of a pair of floats F and F preferably constructed of metal, eachof the floats consisting of forward and rear watertight sections 10 and11 respectively, of hollow cylindrical form, the forward sections beingtapered at their front ends as indicated at 12 so as to reduce to aminimum the resistance oflered by the floats to forward movement in thewater, and being provided with metal bands or straps 18 to which issecured, in the inclined position shown in Fig. 1, and by fasteningmembers 14, a support designated generally at S preferably of woodin'the form of a flat board on which an operator is adapted to rest in amanner to be hereinafter described. The

support- S serves also to rigidly connect the forward sections so as todefinitely position the pair of floats in side by side spaced relation,and the forward and rear sections ofeach float are connected to eachother at their undersides by means of a hinge 15 so that the sectionscan occupy the extended position shown. in Fig. 1 wherein they aredisposed in end to end. relation, or afolded position as shown in Fig. 2wherein the sections are disposed alongside each other The sections ofeach float are secured in extended position by means of a hasp 16,hinged at.

17 to the forward section and receiving an eye 18 secured to the rearsection, after which a pin 19 is extended through theeye to thus preventdisplacement of the hasp.

To provide means for supporting a propelling means P and'an actuatingmeans A for the propelling means,in a submerged position and at apredetermined depth when the vehicle is placed in'the water, a framedesig nated generally at K depends from the floats F and F. i

The frame in the present instance comprises a member constituting ahousing 20 for the actuating means A, a pair of members 21 having theirupper ends pivotally connected at 22 to bands-or straps 23 secured tothe rear sections 11 and their lower ends pivotally connected at 24.- tocars 25 formed, on the tubular portion 26 0f the housing 20, and aconnecter I 27 detachably connected at its ends to the circular portion28 or the housing and to the support S.

The connector 27 comprises a metal bar-of angular. cross sectionprovided at its ends with sleeves constituting sockets 29 and 30, whichfreely receive heads 31 and 32 respectivclysecured to the portion 28 ofthe housing and to the underside of'the support S. The head 31 isprovided with a radially projecting pin 33 which is received in an L-shaped slot 34 formed in the socket 29 so as to prevent endwisedisplacement of the con nector, while the head 32 is provided with a pin35 extending transversely through the head and projecting from oppositesides thereof for engagement within diametrically opposed slots 36formed in the socket 80.

' The connector is adapted to be latched to the head" by means of alatching arm 37 having a slot 38 receiving the L-shaped head 39 of thepin 35, the arm being pivoted at 40 on an actuating lever 41, pivoted at42 on the connector. The free end of the lever ll is provided with aleaf spring 42 bent to provide a projection 43, while a keeper 41stslidable on the connector is adapted to be pushed over the leaf springto a point above the projection so as to latch the actuating leveragainst movement and thus maintain the latching arm 37 in latchingengagement with the pin 35.

In applying the connector to the heads 31 and 32 and assuming that thelatching arm 3? and actuating'lever 4E1 occupy the position I shown indotted lines in Fig. 6, the socket 29 is first extended over the head 31until the pin 33 is received in the inner end of the longitudinalportion of the slot 3st after which the connector is rotated until thepin is positioned. at the inner end of the circumferential portion ofthe slot, at which time the slots 86 of the socket 530 will bepositioned to receive the projecting ends of the pin 85 upon extendingthe socket over the head 32. Nith the pin seated at the inner end of theslots 36 the latching arm 37 and actuating lever 41 are manipulateduntil the head 39 of the pin is received in the slot 38, after which thelever 41 is rocked to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 thusdrawing the arm 37 downwardly beneath the head 39 of the pin 35 toprevent disengagement of the arm from the pin. The keeper 44 is thenpushed over the spring 12 to complete the connecting operation, thuspositively pre venting displacement of the sockets 30 and 32 from theirrespective heads.

The actuating means in the present instance comprises a drive shaft tojournaled centrally in the circular portion 28 of the housing 20 and ina'cover plate 16 closing the open side of the housing, the shaftprojecting from the side of the housing and cover plate and havingsecured thereto a pair of arms 417 in opposed relation, provided withpedals 48. A bevel gear 19 is fixed to the shaft 45 and meshes with apinion fixed to the forward end of a driven shaft 51 journalod in thetubular portion 26 of the housing, while to the projecting rear end ofthe shaft 51 is secured a screw propeller 52 constituting the propellingmeans P. Secured to the rear end of the tubular portion 26 is a spider53 carrying a wire mesh guard 54 which enclosesthe propeller 52 so as toprevent any one from coming in contact with the propeller andjpossiblybeing injured by the latter when in motion.

In the operation of the vehicle it is pushed out in the water by theoperator who then climbs aboar the vehicle and positions himself betweenthe floats F and F with his feet resting on the pedals 18 and hisstomach and chest resting upon the support S so as to occupysubstantially a swimming position. T he arms of the operator can beextended to rest upon the forward scetions 10 of the floats, and uponactuation of the pedals 18 the propeller 52 will be rotated to propelthe vehicle through the water. Should the operator desire to assume aseating posture a seat is provided which comprises a web of canvas 55secured at one end to a strap 56 embracing one of the rear floatsections 11 and provided with hooks 57 adapted to be hooked intoopenings formed in a bar 58 secured to the other rear float section bymeans of a strap 59 embracing the section. With the operator seated onthe web 55 the pedals 48 can be actuated as before and the vehiclepropelled through the water.

By the provision of the pivotal connections 22 and 2st and thedetachable connector 27, the frame K is rendered foldable, so that upondeta-ohing of the connector the housing 20 can be swung upwardly on thepivotal connection 24 to a position between the pair of members 21 andthe members and housing then swung upwardly upon the pivotal connection22 until disposed between the rear float sections 11. Upon removing thepins 19 from the eyes 18 and then swinging the hasps 16 upwardly, theforward float sections 10 can be swung downwardly on the hinge 15 totheir folded position, all of which is clearly shown in 2, to the endthat the vehicle will form a relatively small and compact parcel fortransportation or storage, yet can be quickly set up to form a rigid andstable structure.

It will be noted that the housingis provided with openings 60 throughwhich water can enter the housing and thus serve as a lubricating mediumfor the moving parts'in the housing.

Although I have herein shown and de scribed only one form of aquaticvehicle en bodying my invention, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thespirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: I

1. An aquatic vehicle comprising a pair of floats, means for rigidlyconnecting the floats in side by side spaced relation and constituting asupport on which an operator is adapted to rest, a foldable framedepending from and connected to the floats, propelling means carby theframe and means carried by the frame for actuating the propelling meansand adapted for operation by the feet of the op erator when resting onsaid supoprt. I

2. An aquatic vehicle comprising a pair of floats, each of whichincludes a forward section and a rear section hingedly connected to lit)occupy an extended position wherein the sec- I tions are disposed in endto end relation, or a folded position wherein the sections are disposedalongside each other, a support secured to the forwardsections forrigidly connecting the floats in side by side spaced relation,propelling means for the vehicle, means for, actuating the propellingmeans, a frame comprising a member for supporting said propelling andactuating means, a pair of members pivotally connected at one of theirends to the rear sections and at the other of their ends to the firstmember, a connector, and means for detachably connecting said connectorto the first member and to said support, whereby when said connector isdetached, the first member and pair of members can be swung upon theirpivotal connections to a position substantially in the plane of thesections and will cooperate with the sections when in folded position toform a relatively compact parcel.

3. An aquatlc vehicle as embodied in claim 2 wherein said first membercomprises ahous ing, and said actuating means comprises'a drive shaftjournaled in the housing, arms on the shaft exteriorly of the housing,pedals on the arms, a driven shaft journaled in the housing at an angleto the first shaft, and gears in the housing fixed to the shafts anddisposed in meshing relation, said propelling means comprising apropeller secured to the driven shaft. 7 i

4. An aquatic vehicle as embodied in claim 2 wherein said detachableconnecting means comprises heads secured to the first member andsupport, sockets at the ends of said connector receiving said heads, andmeans for latching the sockets to the heads.

5. An aquatic vehicle-as embodied in claim 2 wherein said detachableconnecting means comprises heads secured to the first member andsupport,sockets at the ends of said connector receiving said heads, andmeans for latching the sockets to the heads comprising pins projectingfrom the heads, an L shaped slot in one of said sockets receiving thepin of the respective head, slotsin the other socket receiving the pinof the other head, a latching arm having an opening adapted to receivethe projecting end of the pin of the other head, an actuating leverpivoted on the connector and to which the latching arm is pivotallyconnected, for moving the arm into latching engagement with the pin, andco-acting means on the lever and connector for maintaining the arm inlatching engagement with the pin.

6. An aquatic vehicle as embodied in claim 2 wherein said detachableconnecting means comprises heads secured to the first member andsupport, sockets at the ends of said connector receiving said heads, andmeans for a latching the sockets to the heads comprising pins pro ect1ngfrom the heads, an L shaped slot in one of said sockets receiving the pmof the respective head, slots in the other socket receiving the pin ofthe other head, a latching arm having an opening adaptedto receive theprojecting end of the pin of the other head, an actuating lever pivotedon the connector and to which the latching arm is pivotally connected,for moving the arm into latching engagement with the pin, and co-actingmeans comprising spring on the lever and a keeper slidable on theconnector into latching engagement with the spring, for maintaining thearm in latching engagement with the pin,

7. An aquatic vehicle comprising a pair of floats, means for rigidlyconnecting the floats in side by side spaced relation and constitutingasupport on which an operator is adapted to rest, propelling means forthe vehicle, manually operable means for actuating the propelling means,and a foldable frame depending from and connected to the floats, forsupporting the propelling, and ac tuating means in a submerged positionin a body of water.

8. An aquatic vehicle comprising a pair of floats, each of whichincludes a forward section and a rear section hingedly connected tooccupy an extended position wherein the sections are disposed in end toend relation, or a folded position wherein the sections are disposedalong-side each other, meansfor securing the sections in extendedposition, a support secured to the forward sections for rigidlyconnecting the floats in side by side spaced relation, propelling meansfor the vehicle, manually operable means for actuating the propellingmeans and a foldable frame depending from the floats and including amember for supporting the propelling and actuating means and othermembers movably connected to the first member and to the rear sectionsof the floats, and a connector detachably associated with the firstmember and the forward sections of the floats.

9. An aquatic vehicle comprising a pair of floats, means for rigidlyconnecting the floats in side by side spaced relation and constituting asupport on which an operator is 7 adapted to rest, a frame dependingfrom and connected to the floats, propelling means carried by the frame,and means carried by the frame for actuating the propelling means andadapted for operation by the feet of the operator when resting on saidsupport, said frame comprising a member for supporting said propellingand actuating means, -a pair of members movably connected to the floatsand said first member, a connector, and means for detachably connectingsaid connector to said first member and support.

10. An aquatic vehicle comprising buoyant means, propelling means forthe vehicle, means for actuating the propelling means, and a frame forsupporting the propelling and actuating means, said frame comprising aplurality of members movably connected to the buoyant means, a singlemember movably connected to the plurality of members, a. connector, andmeans for detachably connecting said connector to the single member andbuoyant means.

11. An aquatic vehicle comprisin buoyant 'means including a support onwhich an operator is adapted to rest, propelling means for the vehicle,means for actuating the propelling means, and a frame comprising amember for supporting the propelling and actuating means, means formovably connecting the member at one point to the buoyant means, anddetachable means for rigidly connecting the member at another point tothe buoyant means.

12. An aquatic vehicle comprising a plurality of floats, each of whichincludes forward and rear sections movably connected to occupy anextended position, or a folded position, means for maintaining thesections in extended position, means for connecting the floats in spacedrelation, propelling leans for the vehicle, means for actuating thepropelling means, and a foldable frame comprising a member for supperin" the propel-- ling and actuating means, me as for movably connectingthe member at one point to the floats, and detachable means for rigidlyconnecting the member at another point to the floats.

13. An aquatic vehicle as embodied in claim 12 wherein said means forconnecting the floats comprises a support inclined downwardly andrearwardly and rigidly connect ing the forward sections in side by sidespaced relation.

14. An aquatic vehicle comprising a pair of floats, means for rigidlyconnecting the floats in side by side parallel relation with sufficientspace between the floats to freely receive the body of anoperatortherebetwecn, a frame depending from and connected to thefloats, propelling means carried by the frame, and foot actuated meanscarried by the frame for actuating the propelling means, and includingtreadles engageable by the feet of the operator, the first meansconstituting a support presenting a flat surface inclined downwardly andrearwardly of the vehicle, on which the chest and abdominal portions ofan operators body when positioned between the floats, are adapted torest, the rear end of the support being so positioned at a point abovethe foot treadles, that with the chest and abdominal portions of theoperators body resting upon the support, the lower portion of the bodyfrom the hips clownward will be free to bend and assume substantiallystanding position with the feet of the operator in engagement with thefoot treadles so that the weight of the operator will the partiallysupported on the treadles and can be applied directly downward on thewtreadles to most effectively operate the latter.

J ANIES F. CALDWELL.

